brands illustrated 6 | Page 24

Virat Kohli it doesn’t pay. Today’s cricketers – a majority of whom came from Tier 2 cities & underprivileged families – have to fight everyday with nothing but performance & results to fall back on. Virat Kohli symbolises the hot, no-nonsense, driven & possessed sportsman who will pull out the stops to win … and if someone acts unfair, funny or superior he asked for it! Isn’t there something solidly seductive about a young, mischievous & masti-achiever, who is funky, cool, fashion-friendly & adventurous, publicly romances a popular Bollywood heroine, articulate and yet fully focused on his agenda of giving it hundred & fifty percent while motivating his team to follow, they counter. Brand specialist, Ad Gurus and passionate followers of Virat Kohli are not surprised. Veteran Communication icon Alyque Padamsee believes that “young Virat brilliantly joins the dots of the object of desire quotient. He excites – through off & on the field activities – and therefore attracts both curiosity & attention; offers both surprise and delight to the unguarded. Which Brand Manager can resist this lip-smacking invitation?!” Brand Endorsement companies believe that age is on his side making him perfect for youth-specific brands. So age, youth and attitude are the main USPs dazzling his star-glow. Others point to his mischievousness, dramatic displays of on-off field passion – a la Ganguli – cool dude image, spicy, headline-grabbing romance with Bollywood star Anushka Sharma, bold, brash, defiant, don’t-give-a-crap-for-phirang dadagiri nonsense, So age, youth and attitude are the main USPs dazzling his star glow. Others point to his mischievousness 24